PRODUCED BY INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERSHIPS AUSTRALIA
Project

Pacific Highway - Hexham to Brisbane

PROJECT STATUS
Awarded
Pacific Highway - Hexham to Brisbane

The Pacific Highway is being duplicated between Hexham near Newcastle and Brisbane. The upgrade program will connect Sydney and Brisbane with dual carriageway for the first time. 

Pacific Highway Upgrade projects include:

  • Oxley Highway to Kundabung (completed in 2017)
  • Kudabung to Kempsey (completed in 2017) 
  • Warrell Creek to Nambucca Heads (completed in 2017)
  • Woolgoolga to Ballina (completed in 2020), and
  • Coffs Harbour Bypass
Sector
Road
Procurement approach
Unconfirmed |
Location
New South Wales | National |
Resources
Infrastructure agency resources
Infrastructure Australia assessment
Government resources
Collaborative Map
Project pages
Pacific Highway Upgrade
Major Contract

Coffs Harbour Bypass

PROJECT STATUS
Awarded
Coffs Harbour Bypass

The scope of works covers a total of 14 kilometres, consisting of a 12-kilometre bypass from the Englands Road intersection to Korora Hill and a two-kilometre upgrade of the existing Pacific Highway from Korora Hill to Sapphire Beach. 

The preferred route was announced in 2004, consisting of a four-lane divided motorway from Englands Road to the newly upgraded Sapphire to Woolgoolga section. The route passes through North Boambee Valley via the Roberts Hill ridgeline, across the foothills of the Coffs Harbour basin west and north to Korora Hill.

The project will include three tunnels at Roberts Hill, Shephards Lane and Gatelys Road and three interchanges at Englands Road, Coramba Road and Korora Hill. 

Key Dates

Mar 2015 Project Announcement
Jul 2021 ROIs Close
2023 Expected Construction Commencement
2027 Expected Construction Completion

Funding contributions

Federal Government
NSW Government

The project is being jointly funded by the Federal and NSW Governments on an 80:20 basis.

Procurement

Procuring Agency: Transport for NSW
Shortlist: CPB and WeBuild Joint Venture, ACCIONA and Seymour Whyte Joint Venture and Gamuda and Ferrovial Joint Venture.
Successful Tenderer: Ferrovial and Gamuda Joint Venture
Related contracts:
Concept Design
Successful Tenderer - Arup

Environmental Impact Statement
Successful Tenderer - Arup

Geotechnical investigations
Successful Tenderer - RCA Australia

Independent Certifier
Successful Tenderer - Aurecon

PROJECT HISTORY

Mar 2015 The NSW Government announced $200 million for the project.
Mar 2016 Arup was awarded the contract to develop the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and finalise the concept design.
May 2018 The Federal Government announced $971 million for the project.
Sep 2018 The NSW Government released the preferred concept design for the Coffs Harbour bypass for public comment. The preferred concept design incorporates land bridges at Gatelys Road and Roberts Hill, and cuttings at Gatelys Road and Shephards Lane. The concept design states the Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) for the project is 1.3 with the projected cost of the project being between $1.17 billion to $1.3 billion.
Jan 2019 The NSW Government announced, following community feedback, that changes would be made to the preferred design, including the use of tunnels that can be accessed by all vehicles. The preferred concept design stated that long tunnels were no longer being considered to ensure all vehicles carrying dangerous good could use the bypass. The Coffs Harbour bypass Community Consultative Committee has been established to drive engagement on the project.
Jun 2020 The NSW Government released the Submissions and Amendments Reports for the Coffs Harbour Bypass following exhibition of the project’s Environmental Impact Statement.
Jul 2020 Transport for NSW issued a Request for Tenders for geotechnical investigations and consulting for the project. Tender applications closed on 27 August 2020. The RFT comes after the National Cabinet announced on 24 July that the Coffs Harbour Bypass is among 15 projects that will be fast tracked in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sep 2020 Transport for NSW announced the commencement of a Market Interaction Process that will involve registration, provision of documentation to eligible participants, an online briefing, technical and interactive sessions, and a submission process, with registrations to be part of the process closing on 25 September.
Sep 2020 The Environmental Impact Statement was released. Submissions on the EIS closed on 27 October 2019. The EIS process has seen the estimated cost of the project rise from $1.2 billion to $1.8 billion due to revisions to the concept design.
Nov 2020 The NSW Government granted environmental approval for the project under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW), subject to conditions.
Dec 2020 The Federal Government has approved the project under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Dec 2020 Early works commenced.
Apr 2021 Transport for NSW opened a Request for Tender (RFT) process for the provision of transaction management services, closing 6 May.
Jun 2021 Transport for NSW called for pre-registrations of interest for delivery of the Coffs Harbour Bypass, closing on 16 July.
Jun 2021 The 2021-22 NSW Budget provided continued funding towards the Coffs Harbour Bypass by allocating $1.2 billion over the next four years, including $100 million in FY2021-22.
Oct 2021 Transport for NSW shortlisted three bidders for the project. The shortlisted bidders are a CPB and WeBuild Joint Venture, ACCIONA and Seymour Whyte Joint Venture and Gamuda and Ferrovial Joint Venture.
May 2022 Transport for NSW issued a Request for Tender (RFT) for the Provision of a Tunnel Technical Lead, closing 2 June.
Jun 2022 The New South Wales Government awarded the Design and Construct contract for the Coffs Harbour Bypass to a Ferrovial and Gamuda Joint Venture. The project 's total estimated cost has increased to $2.2 billion.
Jun 2022 The 2022-23 NSW Budget committed $1.4 billion over four years to the project, including $246 million in FY2022-23.
Aug 2022 Transport for NSW awarded Aurecon the contract to act as Independent Certifier on the Coffs Harbour Bypass project.
Sep 2022 Arcadis was appointed the lead designer on the project.
Estimated Total Cost
(2022)
Sector
Road
Procurement approach
Traditional Procurement |
Location
New South Wales | National |
Infrastructure Australia status
Priority Initiative (near-term, 0-5 years)
Resources
Project website
Coffs Harbour Bypass
Government resources
Environmental Impact Statement
EIS Submissions Report
Project Update September 2019
Project Update September 2018
Preferred Concept Design Summary report September 2018
Media releases
2017/12/20
2019/01/15
2020/09/09
2020/12/08
2021/10/11
2022/06/19
2022/09/14
Tender notices
2020/07/24
2021/04/09
2021/06/23
2022/05/18 - Tunnel Technical Lead
Project pages
Pacific Highway Upgrade
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